In a heart-stopping NBL clash, the Adelaide 36ers staged an incredible comeback to defeat the Cairns Taipans 99-93 in overtime at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. The Sixers found themselves staring at a 19-point deficit in the first half but rallied behind the herculean efforts of Montrezl Harrell and Kendric Davis to secure a vital win in front of a raucous home crowd.
Taipans’ Three-Point Barrage Not Enough
The Cairns Taipans, still missing key players Taran Armstrong and Tanner Groves, came out firing in the first half, connecting on a staggering 11 of 19 attempts from beyond the arc. Rob Edwards led the charge with three triples en route to a game-high 27 points, while Dillon Stith and Kyrin Galloway chipped in with three long-range bombs apiece.
We knew they could shoot the ball well, but that first half was something else. We had to regroup and refocus at halftime.
Adelaide 36ers head coach C.J. Bruton
Despite their hot shooting, the Taipans couldn’t maintain the torrid pace in the second half and overtime, hitting just 4 of 17 from distance the rest of the way. The Sixers took full advantage, chipping away at the lead and forcing the extra period.
Harrell’s Dominance, Davis’ Clutch Play
Montrezl Harrell was an unstoppable force for the 36ers, pouring in 36 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, and swatting five shots in a monstrous performance. The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year even stepped out and drained three triples, showcasing his expanding game.
Trez was a man possessed out there. He did it all for us tonight – scoring, rebounding, protecting the rim. He willed us to this win.
Point guard Kendric Davis
Davis himself was instrumental in the comeback, catching fire in the second half and overtime to finish with 29 points and eight assists. The dynamic floor general consistently got to the free throw line, converting 10 of 13 attempts to help seal the victory.
Sixers’ Second-Half Surge
Trailing 59-43 at the break, the 36ers came out with renewed energy and purpose in the third quarter. An 11-0 run cut into the deficit, and by the end of the period, they had trimmed the Taipans’ lead to just eight points.
Harrell and Davis continued to apply pressure in the fourth, eventually pushing the Sixers in front. But a clutch three-point play by Sam Waardenburg (18 points, 14 rebounds) with 12 seconds left sent the game to overtime knotted at 88.
Overtime Thriller
In the extra session, Adelaide managed to build a six-point cushion, but the stubborn Snakes refused to go away. Even after Waardenburg fouled out, Cairns kept coming, forcing a backcourt violation with 10 seconds to play.
However, the 36ers made just enough plays down the stretch to hold on for the heart-stopping 99-93 victory, sending the 9,382 fans in attendance into a frenzy.
Looking Ahead
With the win, Adelaide improves to 5-3 on the season and will look to build on this momentum as they head into a crucial stretch of games. For Cairns, the loss is their fourth straight, dropping them to 2-6 as they eagerly await the return of Armstrong and Groves.
This was a character-building win for us. We faced a lot of adversity but found a way to come together and get it done. We have to bottle this energy and carry it forward.
36ers captain Mitch McCarron
The NBL season is heating up, with plenty of twists and turns still to come. If this instant classic is any indication, fans are in for a wild ride as teams jockey for position and playoff spots in the weeks ahead.
